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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

Will New Kharkhorin be just another Maidar City (see photo below from summer 2019)? I think so and discuss w/ @ananddairtan.bsky.social and Dolgion. www.agulamedia.com/season-two/e... #Mongolia

Photo of construction at Maidar City, looking towards the mountain. In the left half stands a tall crane that is working on the giant Buddha statue planned for the city. The statue stands all by itself on a broad, green space where no other construction is visible. The sky is a beautiful blue.

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

A presidential election is looming in June 2027 in #Mongolia. A bit early to talk abt chances of individual candidates, but @ananddairtan.bsky.social & I devote a Great State Mural podcast episode to the general setting. www.agulamedia.com/season-two/e... #MGLpoli 🎙️🇲🇳🧑‍🎓

Photo shows me sitting at a desk that is marked as the station for a foreign election observer. I'm in a rural polling station in Orkhon Aimag. I've got my id as an election observer around my neck. As far as I recall, this polling station was a gym, so obviously, the obligatory orange-paint flooring.

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Wait, what? Khurelukh announcing candidacy for non-permanent #UNSC seat for 2048/49? Long-range plan or could this be 2028/29? Foreign Minister Batseteg looking on. #MGLfp

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Prime speaking slot, 2nd speaker in afternoon session of 1st day of #UNGA, now Pres. Khurelsukh of #Mongolia webtv.un.org/en/asset/k17... #MGLfp

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Scholarly Migration database shows net in-migration for #Mongolia over past 15 years based on publication meta data and total number of published (in journals included in data) academics rising from approx 500 (2019) to 1500. Scholarly brain gain! www.scholarlymigration.org/exploration....

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Lese gerade S Erdene "Die Frau des Jägers". Spannend wenn ein (Chalk, ist aber nicht ausdrücklich erwähnt) Mongole, der selber in der Jurte auf dem Land lebt, Zaatan begegnet und sich an der Einfachheit ihres Lebens(stils) erfreut.

"tan zum ersten Mal begegnet, dem kommen die vor wie Wilde. Doch dann begreifst du, dass sie inmitten dieser Urwälder hat nicht anders sein könnten. Es gibt kein Tier, das dort besser zum Reiten geeignet wäre als das Ren. Die Menschen bekleiden sich mit den Fellen der Tiere, die sie gejagt haben, und ernähren sich von ihrem Fleisch. Sie brauchen diesen ganzen Kram nicht: diese Truhen und Schränke, Wagen und Schlitten. Die nehmen ihr Zelt auseinander, laden die Felle auf ein oder zwei Rentiere, ihre Kleidung und was sie sonst haben, stecken sie in einen Fellsack - fertig. So ziehen sie die Gebirgsgrate entlang, und kein Pfad ist ihnen zu steil."

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Outdoor pool tables something that has disappeared in #Mongolia that I miss. Here, captured in 2009 photo book.

Book cover.
Mongolia - Travelling with a Sheep
Irene Martin | Peter Fischer.
Cover shows a rusted bus, sitting on the ground, no wheels, apparently integrated into a fence.

Book page.
Black and white photo looks down a pool table at a young man with a queue, maybe ten balls scattered across table. Many people in the background, public square.

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Regularly, but intermittently returning to Ulaanbaatar, there are always observations that have me buzzing upon return. Some of these, I share in conservation w/ @ananddairtan.bsky.social & Dolgion in most recent episode of The Great State Mural podcast. www.agulamedia.com/podcast/e025

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

I was in Ulaanbaatar recently and discuss impressions from my visit on the newest episode of The Great State Mural. pca.st/had8rd45

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

Souvenir from Ulaanbaatar: New ger lamp shining a light into my living (room).

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Sadly, another glorious Mongolia trip comes to an end. Farewell!

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Was thrilled to meet Great State Mural listeners in Ulaanbaatar last night together with @ananddairtan.bsky.social

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Looking forward to meeting Great State Mural listeners in two hours at News Café!

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

In addition to Podcast Meet-Up tomorrow, also joining in a discussion abt @vdeminstitute.bsky.social democracy indices on #Mongolia, tomorrow 16:30h in Ulaanbaatar, see attached.

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

Yes, food trucks in Ulaanbaatar. The mayor banned small shops, so people moved to trucks to park then permanently where the shop was. #Mongolia

Hindomaru Japanese food. Sorry of a wood cabin look.

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Yes, April is protest season in Ulaanbaatar. At the same time, another group at side entrance. Didn't catch their cause, probably Tuul highway!? #Mongolia #MGLpoli

Sukhbaatar Square in the middle of Ulaanbaatar. Photo taken from one edge of the square, looking west. Grand facade of government house would be to the right. In the background: done higher and a construction carcass. A group of about 20 people assembled between Sukhbaatar statue and government house entrance. Some small placards, a microphone.

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Ulaanbaatar version of attempt to combat rental scooters thrown about everywhere in cities... Note: no scooters here, but perhaps not the season for scooting, yet.

Photo of Ulaanbaatar sidewalk. On the paving stones, there are rectangular stalls in white paint with the image of a stand-up scooter, a sit-down scooter and a "P". In the frame there are six stalls. In the background, roadside greenery, still winter- brown.

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

In case you're wondering what that "Great State Mural - #Mongolia Portrayed" crew of hosts looks like, here's us during a recording session. www.agulamedia.com/podcast 🎙️🇲🇳📷

Screenshot of three hosts in an online recording "studio". From right to left: Anand, Dolgion, Julian. We all managed to look at the camera and are kind of smiling. Julian's hair is crazier than the others'. Photos show mercifully little of the background.

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Notable uptick across all democracy indices with @vdeminstitute.bsky.social for #Mongolia. Had been puzzled by steady declines (see mongoliafocus.com/2025/12/self... for implications), now I fail to be able to point to any factor in past 18 months that should lead to improvement. #vdem

Graph of all five subindices included in VDem as democracy indicators. Generated at https://v-dem.net/data_analysis/CountryGraph/. Here, time restricted to 2010-2025. All indices take downturn in second half of 2010s, notable uptick from 2024 to 2025.

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Academic Freedom Index continues to decline for #Mongolia. Last year, I took a closer look. mongoliafocus.com/2025/05/asse...

Academic Freedom Index through 2025 for Mongolia.

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

Continues to be a bit of a thrill to see this notification... open.spotify.com/episode/6K6l...

Screen shot of Spotify notification for new episode of our "Great State Mural" podcast on Mongolia's energy crisis.

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 22/11/2025

O Corff über 100 Jahre mongolische Verfassungen bei der Jahrestagung der 🇩🇪🇲🇳Gesellschaft. Interessanterweise besonders auch ästhetische Aspekte.

Foto des Vortragenden vor einer Folie die das Manuskript der Verfassung von 1960 zeigt.

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 02/11/2025

Und ich dachte die mongolische Volkspartei sei die einzige Fleischpartei (MAXHam), die SED offensichtlich auch, zumindest in Schmogrow, laut Jochen Schmidt ("Phlox", S. 246)

Foto von Textabschnitt.
"Nachdem die SED gegründet worden war, warb die Bürgermeisterin [...] für diese Partei, deren Mitglieder auf ihre Lebensmittelkarten eine größere Zuteilung von Fleisch bekamen, mit den Worten: 'Wollen Se Fleesch? Immer rin in die Fleeschpartei!'"

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

Ich warne meine Kolleg*innen öfter dass in der Fakultät immer mehr Mongolei auftauchen wird. Eine Pferdekoppel haben wir noch nicht, aber erste Anzeichen auf dem Flur und das war ich nicht einmal.

Ein Poster in einem Schaukasten.
In der Mitte, im Fettdruck "Exkursion"
Darüber das Foto eines Hirten in einem fliederfarbenen Deel vor einer Kamelheerde.
Darunter Listen von geplanten Exkursionen nach Kirgistan, Kazakhstan und, ja, in die Mongolei.

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 13/07/2025

Deutsch-Mongolische Kulturtage für Nachhaltigkeit in Stuttgart. #Mongolei

Tengerton Ensemble spielt mongolische Musik. Selbstverständlich Pferdekopfgeige.

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 29/06/2025

President and Prime Minister jumping on the 3x3 women's basketball hype train.

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

First communications initiative (on Insta) from new #Mongolia PM Zandanshatar: 🇲🇳 esports team...

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

Oh, but I do think there is some news there...

Screen shot of website of Mongolian Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry. Under "News" an empty tile that says "Nothing found"

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

Natl Stats Office #Mongolia reports on trade Jan-May 2025. Minerals compared to Jan-May 2024: Coal 📉 42.2% (in value) Copper 📈 61% Cu thus catching up to coal in value: US$1.85b vs $2.2b Fluospar & Zinc have also jumped up in value. nso.mn/en/dissemina...

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

I offer more of an assessment of #AcademicFreedomIndex derived from @vdeminstitute.bsky.social data on #Mongolia. mongoliafocus.com/2025/05/asse...

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

Having listened to podcast interview (newbooksnetwork.com/the-historic...) looking fwd to reading Vitale's "Historical Writing of Mongol Invasions in Japan".

Inner book cover of "The Historical Writing of the Mongol Invasions in Japan"
Judith Vitale
Published bz the Harvard University Asia Center
Distributed by Harvard University Press
Cambridge (Massachusetts) and London 2024

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

Since I continue to think abt #AcademicFreedom in #Mongolia, here's the corresponding graph for 2019-2024, period of decline in the Academic Freedom Index components. Note relatively (compared to 🇹🇷) even shape, pointing to, again relatively, high degree of academic freedom across all 5 indicators.

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

Returning to earlier consideration of #academicfreedom in #Mongolia based on @vdeminstitute.bsky.social mongoliafocus.com/2025/04/acad... Important to keep in mind that 🇲🇳 continues to maintain much higher levels of academic freedom than neighbours!

Graph of Academic Freedom Index 1990 to today.
China starts very low (0.17) and really doesn't move very much to end up at 0.07 in 2024. By contrast Mongolia and Russia, becoming much freer 1990-1992. Russia starts a gradual decline in 2000, dropping more rapidly from 2008 to approach China's score today (0.21). Mongolia remains much freer longer, starting a graduate decline in 2019 to remain far above its neighbours (0.7).

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

On visits I always take notes (since 2011) on what's new and what's disappeared in Ulaanbaatar. For the newest addition see mongoliafocus.com/category/ula... #Mongolia

At some Ulaanbaatar intersections there are now strips of light embedded in the sidewalk. The photo shows a green strip in the foreground while the partly visible strip in the background (perpendicular direction) is red with some people waiting behind it.

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

Farewell, Mongolia! I hope to be back soon.

Selfie, in the background a tourist camp of gers.

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

What a wonderful book I've picked up in Ulaanbaatar. "20th Century #Mongolia n Pop Culture Posters". See www.instagram.com/mongolianvis... to get a copy.

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

National Univ of #Mongolia (student?) theater, Camus' "The Stranger"

Photo for showing of The Stranger.
Caption "If you come having read it - great.
"If you come without reading it - even better"

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

Category: increasing agricultural and domestic food production in #Mongolia. No street vendors this time of year, but (fancy) supermarket offered 8 different varieties of honey for sale. The brand name won me over.

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

Happened across official event on Sukhbaatar Square this morning, possibly involving an Armenian visit. #Mongolia #MGLfp

Clear blue sky over Government House in Ulaanbaatar. Mongolian flag flying over Government House in background. Honour guard in their very fancy blue-red uniforms in foreground. Three flagmasts flying Mongolian flag to the right. Small crowd watching at fence set up behind honour guard.

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

Always something new in Ulaanbaatar: Traffic light strips in the sidewalk, paired with tactile tiles common across Japan as well. Traffic strips blink and turn colour, ppl see them without looking up from screens, I imagine. #Mongolia

8 25cm or so long, 5cm wide strips of LEDs, currently light in green, though you can see red set in the background. Set in sidewalk with tactile tiles, bumpity for edge of road, lines for safe walking toward crossing.

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

For you young ppl out there (tho you pbly already knew): Streamer IShowSpeed went on run thru Ulaanbaatar. www.youtube.com/live/0mwuGEx... Seemed to enjoy Long Song! #Mongolia

Screen shot showing IShowSpeed with Long Song singer, all dressed up.

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

Compare those graphs to bigger trends around the world, for example OECD and Asia scores.

Similar graphs as previous post, here showing academic freedom index from 1970 to 2024 for Asia and the OECD. Obviously, graphs much smoother than country graphs. Asia and the OECD see a steady rise throughout the period until around 2009 (with an OECD jump in 1990) and similarly steady decline until today. Mongolia scores have been close to OECD since the 1990s.

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

Comparing development of academic freedom (as measured @vdeminstitute.bsky.social) for #Mongolia, Argentina and Portugal, as those are two countries with a score comparable to 🇲🇳 in 2024. Much steeper decline in two comparators puts 🇲🇳 in some perspective. #MGLpoli

Three graphs from 1970 to 2024 for Argentina, Mongolia and Portugal.
Academic freedom in Argentina goes up quickly after 1982 with the end of military dictatorship. It drops in 2024 from 0.97 to 0.69
With the beginning of the democratic era, academic freedom index for Mongolia goes up in the early 1990s, never quite reaches level of ARG and POR, but declines more slowly from 2019 on.
Portugal's score rises rapidly after the end of the Estado Novo, from 1973 onward. Steep decline from 2023 to 2024 (0.93 to 0.72).

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

Those concerned abt #Mongolia democracy often point to decline in @vdeminstitute.bsky.social ratings. As example, see graph of five main democracy indices below, all declining from around 2019. V-Dem offers many graphing tools to take a look yourself. v-dem.net/data_analysi... #MGLpoli

Overtime graph form 2000 to 2024.
From highest to lowest:
Electoral democracy
Liberal democracy
Deliberative democracy
Egalitarian democracy
Participatory democracy
All five moving largely in parallel.
Values comparison 2018 vs 2024:
Electoral democracy 0.65 to 0.5
Liberal democracy 0.54 to 0.39
Deliberative democracy 0.53 to 0.39
Egalitarian democracy 0.49 to 0.35
Participatory democracy 0.36 to 0.25
Little change until around 2019 when all five start declining.

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

Frozen Lake Khuvsgul as travel destination in weekend edition of German daily, Süddeutsche Zeitung. #Mongolia

Photo of travel section. Headline: Auf dem Eisplaneten, On the Ice Planet. Image shows two small Landcruisers parked on ice, lakeshore in the background.

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Mongolia Focus @mongoliafocus.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

Since Ukraine invasion by Putin's Russia, #Mongolia criticized for abstaining on UN resolutions condemning aggression. mongoliafocus.com/2022/07/russ... Now, 🇲🇳 continues to abstain, but 🇺🇸 votes against. Curiously, contrast not noted in 🇲🇳 reporting. news.mn/r/2785377/ #MGLfp

Screen shot showing UN General Assembly votes on Feb 24, resolution "Advancing a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine" showing 93 in favour, 18 against (including U.S.), 65 abstentions (including Mongolia).

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